Why is there no
girls' football?Women can do what ever they want. Times
have rightly changed. Women serve in the military, politics and
in the home. They choose what they want to do as at no other
time in history.
In sports, women have not only made their marks on the field,
but in the announcer's booths and media telecasts. The face of
sports on television now definitely includes men and women.
Women will compete in the pole vault next month at the Olympics
in Sydney. Women have been racing for years. Boxing and ice hockey
have recently become sports for women as well. The Silver Bullets,
an all-female team, played baseball for several years.
One question still remains, however.
Why is there no women's tackle football?
Plenty of women enjoy watching football. They understand the
game. They follow the game. Some of them report on the game.
But they do not play the game.
Sure, a few girls here and there have played football on the
boys' team. Most of the time, they are kickers. Middle Georgia
College has one right now.
But what is it about football that has kept females from demanding
to play?
The fact that very few girls play tackle football at young ages
has something to do with it, surely. If girls have never played
the game, they are less likely to start playing. But at the very
least, it seems like girls should be playing competitive flag
football.
The stereotype of girls says they don't want to get dirty or
hit each other.
Some women follow football religiously. They know stats, trends
and history. They play in their back yards with brothers and
neighbors. Those interests would seem to provide the necessary
drive to play.
As for the stereotype for what girls should do, the other activities
like boxing would seem to say that some women don't mind a little
contact.
Plenty of girls get dirty on a softball field. Plenty more get
bloodied noses and scrapes on the basketball floor or track.
So why not girls' football?
The only answer left that makes logical sense is that women just
don't want to play.
And that is unfortunate.
If there were girls' football in high school and women's football
in college, sports participation would be about even everywhere.
Title IX would not be much of a concern anymore.
It would also be one more thing that made sense to me, for whatever
that's worth.Drew Brantley is the sports editor for The Commerce News and
The Banks County News.

Editorial
The Banks County News
August 16, 2000

Parents need to
take active role in schoolsExcitement is in the air as children and
parents get ready for another school year. Youngsters through
teenagers will be in class Friday full of anticipation, and perhaps
a little fear, about the new year.
Parents can make the transition for their children returning
to school easier by being as involved as possible. Parents need
to meet with teachers on a regular basis, encourage their children
to do homework and projects early and make sure their child gets
the proper rest and nutrition in order to function.
Parents can also help their child by reading to them and listening
to them read. Adults also need to pick up a book and read themselves
in order to be a positive role model for their child. A child
who sees Mom and Dad picking up the Bible, a newspaper or a book
to read will learn the importance of reading. Adults and children
need to make time for reading every day­even if it is only
for 15 minutes before going to bed each night. It will make a
world of difference.

Voters should be
ashamed of turnoutEvery other week, I sit in front of my
computer and I write a column expressing my views, opinions and
thoughts. I do this because I enjoy it and because it is a right
I have as a citizen of this great nation.
And many of you out there take every opportunity you can to say
whatever you want and express your own personal views. You can
do that; it's your right. And, it's a valuable right that many
people have died to preserve.
However, it isn't your only right.
As an American, you have the right to a fair justice system and
to choose your own religion and to bear arms. But there is one
right, a very important one, that many of you neglect and often
throw to the curb-your right to vote.
The voter turnout for the recent primaries and run-offs were
pitiful at best. It seems many of you just forgot-not forgot
to vote, but forgot about one of your duties as an American and
the debt you owe to everyone who has given a piece of their lives
to let you live in freedom.
Banks County citizens put up the highest voter turnout of our
three counties. They sent nearly 50 percent of registered voters
to the polls in the primaries and 25 percent to the polls for
the run-off.
In Jackson County, only 28 percent of registered voters cared
enough to make a five-minute stop at the polls in their district
for the primaries. Roughly half that many, or 15 percent, showed
up for the run-off, which included the deciding race for chairman
of the board of commissioners.
But in Madison County, a dismal 21 percent of the county's registered
voters thought enough of their right as an American to go vote.
Fourteen percent of the voters then returned last week for the
run-off.
You may not think so, but your decision not to vote could be
a costly one indeed.
Extremists, radicals and communists (yes, I said communists)
feed on your apathy, ignorance and laziness. They know that all
they have to do is mobilize several hundred supporters and they'll
elect whomever they choose. But you, the apathetic one, will
be left to suffer the consequences of their actions as a governmental
board. And you will no doubt curse them and write letters to
your newspaper about them and announce your hatred of them. Where
were you on election day when your voice mattered? The people
in office seem important to you now; why weren't they important
from the very beginning?
It doesn't do any good to complain after the fact, especially
if you didn't think enough of the system to participate.
What has happened in America that has caused apathy to take over?
I know you don't care, I just don't know why.
But I challenge all you registered voters who chose not to go
vote last month. I challenge you to call someone you know who
fought in our armed services. I challenge you to call the children
and the widow of a soldier killed while defending your rights.
Tell them you don't care. Tell them the loss of their loved one
means nothing to you. Tell all the grieving mothers and fathers
that their sacrifice wasn't enough for you. Let them know that
you don't think enough of your right as an American to participate
in the voting process.
And if you don't want to vote, stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
Stop flying the flag above your business. Stop having pride in
your country. Stop being an American.
Actually, you don't have to do any of that stuff. I think you
already have.Adam Fouche is a reporter for MainStreet Newspapers. His email
address is fouche@nbank.net.